So...to me it looks a bit Irish.

Recently a friend and I set up a thing where I got a very handsome pencil (and I do mean REALLY) for something I think I sent him. I forget that part of it actually, as it's rather lost back there somewhere in the whole thing. Because somehow it got escalated to where I was getting both the pencil AND a pipe...really through no fault of my own, I swear.

But to make a long story shorter, Walt is the evil perpetrator and the pipe was made by Kirk, a BoB member (ANOTHER BoB Pipemaker...HOORay!!!) that lives just outside London, apparently. The one in the UK...not Connecticut, etc.

Anyway, I had to share. The pipe is totally stellar...so completely suited to my taste. It's what I would call an Irish Rustic shape, but I'm sure that's not really accurate. Unlike what I see on the rest of Kirk's website it has a sort of what I call 'folkcraft' aspect to it...that rustic Irish thing. I used to have a Charatan that had close to the same feel, but it was small. almost apologetic in size. This one shouts. It yells! It hoots its presence. I love that about it. The bowl is narrow and very, very deep. Should be a killer pipe in which dark flakes can smolder and sulk like raw leaves on a burn pile on a crisp Fall morning. It's a pipe that one who is full of joy smokes to scream that joy to the rest of the world. It's a pipe that makes a good day better and a good man at peace with his surroundings. It's really quite brilliant.

Just in off the smoking deck taking advantage of an afternoon sun break. Had a knife to work on (something special) and a deep break-in bowl of Gawith & Hogwarts Broken Flake #7. So ghost layer #1 has been applied. Both projects went exceedingly well. The pipe has stellar draw characteristics and balances so well that while not being a featherweight it sat very lightly. I can tell from the way it smoked on the honeymoon that this is a match made in heaven. Exceptionally fine. Take a look at the bit. If you can make it out, note the care taken in sculpting the draw hole. It's astonishing.

This is one I'll put a name on. Not sure what yet. Something Irish...female...rural. It'll come to me.

Thanks re the cane. It's Cherry with an applied handle of Flowering Plum. I think of it as a Shillelagh although there's no spiral to the wood. More like something akin to, "There was a crooked man, who walked a crooked mile..." thing. It's his Crooked Stick. The thing is tough as a nail and well decorated with crusted agate spheres and tinted with various shadings of watercolor prior to 3 coats of Spar Verathane. The classic, 'It'll do' kinda thing. A very fun piece. Folk Artsy.

Unbelievable, I am quite taken aback by this Dave, I didn't think for one moment that anyone would pick up on the Irish tone to this pipe, it is in fact very similar to my Da's very own pipe. He was from Nenagh, that is in Co.Tipperary, Ireland, he had a few pipes but that one he carried with him always as his great great Grandfather made it himself. I sat in my crappy little shed rolling the block of Briar over and over in my hands until the shape in the block came to me, as I realised what shape I was feeling in the wood I found myself crying, ever so slightly a few tears fell down my face onto my lap, it took me by surprise I must say until I recognise what I was feeling in the wood. Aye, 'tis not precisely the same as my Da's pipe because that was his pipe, but the shape was shockingly similar.

I felt a very very strong energy in that block when I first touched it, of course now I know why, it was both exciting and strangely disquieting making that pipe but I freed it from the chaff as best I could. Each and every pipe I have made thus far has had a deeply profound affect on me and each of them has my own energies poured into them, lovingly and tenderly of course, almost as a lover would caress a lover with that trembling in the chest resonating positive energies, hmmm, starting to show how mad I am right there huh, right so, I'll naff off now and leave you to enjoy your gift from Walt, he's a very special and unique man and his friendship a highly treasured gift from the Cosmos, I am deeply moved that he chose to give you this pipe, enjoy it in rude good health.

So to settle this great dispute, to quell the brouhaha, etc., etc., etc. the name has been chosen.

It has nothing to do with green eyes or red hair or the like. Quite the opposite. It refers to one with a dark look...dark hair and brown eyes. And it IS very specific to Co. Tipperary.

And so - in honor of the maker (the grand da) and appropriate to his kith and kin and as it has been beforehand Christened by a tear from his line...and as it represents the dark brown of the briar and of the old sod, I do hereby christen the pipe...Ciara.

But given all that this pipe is and represents and who made it and that whole experience...it is so very clearly Ciara.

Now then, wanting a redhead 'in addition' is certainly fine. And I'm sure we all do. And if you want a redhead, I should snag a shot if the red one that Scottie made for me. Red and black two tone stain with a red tortoise stem. Sweetness!